The San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.
People who would like to donate money or try to reach family members in Japan are asked to visit the Red Cross website at www.sdarc.org.
U.S. citizens can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to those affected by the disaster.
Financial donations are preferred because products are difficult to ship overseas, an American Red Cross official said.
Red Cross chapters across the U.S. western coastline and in the Pacific Islands are on alert. There have been reports of varied amounts of damage, most notably in Northern California and Oregon.
